World-acclaimed novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, is scheduled to receive the inaugural Felix Jud Prize for Defiant Thinking in recognition of her literary achievements and commitment to equality and human rights.
The award ceremony will take place during the 15th edition of the Harbourfront Literature Festival at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany, on September 20, 2025.
Already recognised as one of the most significant voices in contemporary literature, Adichie was selected to be the first recipient of the award by a distinguished jury, including Reinhold Beckmann, Robert Eberhardt, Jonathan Landgrebe, Jo Lendle, Joachim Lux, André Schmitz, Jette Steckel, and Nicola Verstl.
This award is the latest in a distinguished list of international accolades for the literary icon. In the past, Adichie has been honoured with the MacArthur “Genius” Grant, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, and numerous other recognitions from institutions worldwide, cementing her status as one of the most influential and celebrated voices of this generation.
The Felix Jud Prize for Defiant Thinking is a prestigious German award seeking to honour individuals from the fields of literature, art, and culture who, through their work, have made a significant contribution to strengthening resistant thinking, humanity, freedom, a culture of debate, and freedom of expression.
The Felix Jud Prize is an initiative of the Felix Jud Friends e.V., a non-profit association dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Felix Jud, and the Felix Jud Bookstore team.
Adichie, who recently turned 48, embodies the values the prize seeks to celebrate. Her powerful voice and influence have transcended literary boundaries, reaching a global audience through her impactful TED talks and her contributions to music, fashion, and culture. Notably, her writing and speeches have been sampled by artists like Beyoncé, and she has inspired a new generation of designers and creatives to explore themes of identity and cultural heritage, extending her message of defiance and freedom far beyond the written word.
The award is inspired by the legacy of Felix Jud, a German political activist and bookseller who opened his bookshop in 1923. His shop, which became one of Hamburg’s most traditional literary institutions, was a symbol of resistance during the Nazi regime. Felix Jud defiantly refused to change his name despite its association with “Jud” (Jew) and used his shop to mock Adolf Hitler and sell forbidden literature. His bookstore became a quiet meeting point for opponents of the regime, embodying the spirit of intellectual freedom that the prize seeks to promote today.
